Tip downs?

ok this might be a dumb question but what are they? i know they are used for panfish but if they are like a tipup how do u have enough time to set the hook? panfish dont run like northerns do. any info would be appreciated.

The dangler is by far the best "tip down" ever put on the market. Small very portable easy to set up, just set hook without having to wiggle out of rod holder. I have several of them now, and several extra straps for every pole. They work great for all fishing. Including pan fish, on very light bite days you can see the pole move. Now they have added the trip up to the dangler line of products. Basically a tip up but used in conjunction with your pole. The trip up can be used for ice rods as well as open water. These guys create great products.I have sold pretty much all my beaverdams, and given away every last rod holder since finding these products. I just looked at the website it is fishdangler.com These products are great. I think they are unbeatable, In my shack I use them with electronics, a unbeatable combination. IM me with any questions and hopefully I can help you out with them. i bough a few cases because every time I was on the ice and someone saw me with them, i kept selling mine. Now I carry extras.

I have made some wooden tip downs that balance a spinning rod on the top by using a metal tube with a balancing rod welded to it. you can put any fishing combo into it and tighten the thumb screw to balance. works great. BUT i just found a new tip down called the Dangler which uses a velcro hook that you attach to your combo at the balancing point and is a much nicer unit. folds up really small and works great!

Hello, tip downs are mainly used for Crappies. basically they are a pole that is placed on a stand and is balanced on the stand to give as little as possible of resistance when the fish starts to swim away after taking the minnow. You are right on the setting the hook you need to get to the rod before the rod tips all the way forward. Once this happens the fish will feel the resistance of the pole due to the fact that you don't have it set for the fish to run out line. Once you get to the pole you grab it off the stand. Here's the tricky part something you have to learn by doing it. Some people will just grab and jerk up right off the bat, I see more fish lost this way.... the other way some do it is by taking the rod off the stand and following the fish by pointing the pole towards the hole while sorta lowering. This allows the fish to have a little more time with the bait and also gives you the opportunity to get a direction its going and also allowing the fish to feel nothing in resistance then (pull up Don't jerk) crappies have a very soft mouth you will rip the bait away. All you need to do is keep tention on the line and the fish has a harder time get off the line. As for setting the tip down up usually rule of thumb starting you hook the depth finder on the line and find the bottom. Raise the bait to the depth you are going to fish at ( Usually 1' - 3' ) off the bottom, tighten the spool on the rod and then set it on the stand. With the handle tipping back. When the fish hits the rod will start to tip forward, fish on!!!!!! I always put a bobber stop on the line about 6 inches off the water surface in the hole. this allows me to reset the bait at the depth I was at after I caught a fish.

As for attaching the rod to the stand you drill a hole through the handle at the point of were the rod is balanced with line and lure weight included. Figure in the minnow weight (Guess) and drill hole put a dull rod of some sort through the handle. I went to the hardware store and bought some brass dull rods and cut then to the size of the stand top. as for the stand I use a 2" PVC pipe cut a 38" tall only reason is that it gives me the ability to just walk up to the rod and reach down without having to bend over. You cut notches on both sides on the top of the PVC pipe which allows you to set the rod on the top of the stand. your ready to fish.

To set the PVC pipe up near the hole you take the slush from the hole that was drilled and form a ant hill and put the pole in the middle and pack the ice around the pole it will freeze solid. Don't worry the fish can't tip it over the most that will happen if you get a good walleye or pike on is that the rod will tip all the way down and then fly into the hole if you do get it. Hope this helps and have a good ice fishing season, and if you are still wondering on something just go up to someone fishing this and ask. People on the ice are super nice and will help you out.

Ive got the same ones from gander, I think theyre excellent. As far as cold and windy days go,I use the foam rubber hole covers gander sells. I carry a couple of boards in the sled to use for wind blocks. Like 24x12 pieces of plywood. Prop them up with slush or a bucket.

Try this link. I bought several of these from Gander in Madison, when they were consolidating the two old stores to open the new store on I-94 last year. These little gems catch fish when nobody else can buy a bite.

The down side - they have to be used on balmy days, when the holes won't freeze quickly (late season).

I fished with a group on the Turtle Flambeau for suspended Crappie over deep lake basins, at the end of February 08. I've never seen such a deadly technique or numbers of "monster" Crappie in my life.

Use some type of braid or thin dacron for your main line, then a swivel and 4 or 6 pound fluorocarbon for a leader. Use your electronics to set your hook and split shot or jig and mark your line at the top of the hole with a small bobber. This will help balance the rod in the cradle or there is a removable end cap on the rod to add counter balance weights). You will end-up hand-lining your catch and the dacron or braid will help here. The bobber will help you get back on fish quickly.

Here is a tip down thread already started that has great pictures, instructions, and even links to instructions I think. I have not made any yet but I have seen another LLrs that made some after reading This thread. Please believe me when I type that I am not trying to be a LL posting freak but helping some understand that by using the search/keyword at the top right hand side of the page,you can find a wealth of info that some may not want to type again. As well as many great LLers that don't seem to post anymore. SCROLL DOWN and happy reading. OZOB